Accidental Discoveries That Taste Real Good

Let’s face facts, gravity was discovered when an apple accidentally fell on Isaac Newton’s head. If science can rely on apples and men leaping out of the bath screaming “Eureka!” it’s not surprising that some of the world’s best-loved foods were invented by accident.

The Humble Potato Crisp

Your bag of crisps was not planned at all. In 1853, a diner at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs companies repeatedly about his soggy fries, until the frustrated chef sliced a potato wafer thing and fried it before sprinkling it with salt. The patron loved it, and it soon became a hit on the menu before spreading out and across the world.

The Ice Cream Cone

 

All ice cream used to be served in cups that you definitely could not eat until one summer’s day in 1904 when an ice-cream vendor ran out of servicing dishes. Anxious not to lose any business at the St. Louis World fair, a pastry stall owner Ernest Hamwi immediately used his waffle pastry to create cones for the ice cream. Edible, environmental and very more-ish!

Angry Choc-Chips

Frustration and necessity seem to be a trend with accidental food discoveries. The chocolate chip cookie was invented when Ruth Wakefield ran out of her usual baking chocolate back in 1930. A professional baker for a hotel, Ruth decided to break a bar of regular chocolate into the recipe and hope for the best. The result of this accidental discovery was the start of the world famous chocolate chip cookie.

Kellogg – The Accidental Health Breakfast

Cornflakes were invented by accident, when the Kellogg brothers were looking for a healthy snack for their patients. A batch of boiled wheat went stale by accident and the brothers tried to put it through a roller hoping for the best. The stale whet flaked off and cornflakes were born.

Cheesed Off Cheeseburger

There are those who say that the hamburger was an accident as well, and the Cheeseburger definitely was an attempt by a Pasadena chef to cover up one burnt side of a burger patty.

Cobb Salad – or David Salad?

In an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, the history of the Cobb Salad was discussed with everyone claiming that they invented it. The real Cobb salad though was invented by Bob Cobb of the Brown Derby in Los Angeles. He wanted a snack late one night and used the first ingredients that he could lay his hands on. The salad was an overnight success and became one of the signature dishes of the decade.

Disputes about food inventions are nothing new, and even the Caesar salad has a number of versions as to its creation. The Cardini family, who owned the restaurant called Caesar’s have all laid claim to creating the first Caesar salad in the early 1920’s.

The truth though, as with so many wonderful dishes is probably that of Caesar himself who said he had run short of menu items and didn’t want to disappoint his patrons. He simply grabbed whatever was available and tossed it all up in a bowl. The real trick was creating the dressing, which was perfected by the head Chef at the Ritz in Paris a few years later.

Perhaps you could be the inventor of a new and wonderful dish when you’re next scratching around for a snack at 2am.

This article was researched and compiled by HotelClub.com; where you can find the perfect room for your culinary journey across the globe.